Before you get started with invoicing and sending invoices from Abtrac you’ll need to apply some settings if you want to offer your clients a secure online credit card payment option.
This article contains a step by step guide for administrators – directing you page by page to verify that the settings in Abtrac are ready for online invoice payments.
About online invoice payments with Stripe
Abtrac has partnered with Stripe to offer an online payment option for invoices. Stripe is a leading online payment platform that allows businesses to accept payments securely from customers worldwide. Stripe is a credit card processing system that lets you receive payments from your clients without having to set up a Merchant account with your bank.
Stripe supports various payment methods, including credit cards, Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay, Apple Pay etc, debit cards and local payment options. The integration of Stripe into Abtrac enables seamless payment processing directly from Abtrac invoices and invoice emails.
1. Setting up your invoice preferences for online payments
In Abtrac, you can configure and manage your Stripe settings by navigating to Administration >> Settings >> Invoice and Other Office Settings >> Stripe Settings.
From Invoice settings scroll to the Stripe Settings section.
Invoice and Other Office settings include Stripe settings for:
- invoice country
- Stripe account ID
- Stripe details link
- Stripe payment text
- Stripe additional text/terms
In Abtrac you can manage multiple offices, with each office/branch optionally invoicing separately. As such you can also have more than one invoice setting configuration in Abtrac, including Stripe settings for different countries.
Follow the steps for setting up all the Invoice and Other Office settings here
Stripe Country/Currency
Select a country from the dropdown menu
Currently, Stripe account creation is supported for Australia and New Zealand currency only.
Connect Abtrac to Stripe (Connected to Stripe Account)
Click the “Connect to Stripe” button to link your office settings with a Stripe account.
Follow this step even if you already have a Stripe account.
Once the connection is successfully established, a popup will confirm the connection, and the “Connected to Stripe Account” textbox will display the associated account ID.
Add Information to Stripe (Sign up for Stripe)
After the “Connected to Stripe Account” field is populated, click the “Add Information to Stripe” button to complete the account setup process.
This action will redirect you to the Stripe website.
If you already have a Stripe account, log in using the existing email address linked to it. Otherwise, provide a new email address to create a new Stripe account.
Enter your business details and follow the prompts to complete the Stripe connection process.
For any issues or advanced configurations, you can contact Stripe Support directly by clicking on this link: Stripe Support Center
Customise your Stripe payment text and additional text
Your clients will pay invoices via a payment link within the invoice email, or in the invoice pdf. You can add and customise the optional text that goes with these links.
Stripe payment text
Abtrac allows users to define customised payment text for each invoice/office setting.
Stripe additional payment text
Additionally, a separate field is available for entering any extra terms or additional text you may need. This flexibility helps tailor your invoices to suit specific requirements or preferences. You might add online payment terms here, or outline payment fee details.
2. Customising invoice email settings with online payment links
In AbtracOnline you can email invoices directly. You’ll need to add your stripe payment link and payment text to your invoice email template by following the steps below.
Before you start – check your sender settings
To ensure successful email delivery, the From address to use to send emails is [email protected]. You can configure other email settings from System Settings > Invoices > Email Configuration.
Here’s how to check all your emails settings
Adding Stripe links to your Invoice Email templates
From Administration >> Settings >> Email Settings > choose the option for Invoices.
Then choose add your stripe payment links and text to your invoice email template, and apply your chosen email setting from the Invoice and Other Office Settings screen.
Which Stripe payment link do I choose?
Abtrac offers two types of payment links: Pay online now and Review and pay.
- Pay online now: This link takes you directly to the Stripe payment page.
- Review and pay: This link includes a preview of your invoice online, allowing clients to review it before proceeding to the Stripe payment page.
Since Abtrac invoice emails already include a PDF copy of the invoice, choosing between these options is simply a matter of personal preference. There’s no need to include both links in your email template.
Read how to set up templates for invoice emails here
3. Configuring your invoice pdf (invoice template) for online payments
In AbtracOnline you can email pdf copies of invoices directly, or download invoices and attach them to messages manually.
When you go live with AbtracOnLine, we recommend you do invest in getting the support team to create your invoice layout for you. Or you can choose from one of these templates.
To make your own invoice modifications you can use the AbtracOnLine Report Designer. From Administration >> Settings >> Invoice Settings >> go to the ‘Invoice, Account Rendered, Purchase Order, and Receipt Templates’ section. At the top click on the Default Invoice Template edit button on the right-hand side.
Before making any adjustments, be sure to take a copy of your template so you have a version you can revert back to if need be. (How to save a back up copy of your invoice)
You can add your stripe payment link and payment text to your invoice pdf template by following the steps below.
- Add the required fields (StripePaymentLink, Stripe_Label, or Stripe Alternate Label,)
- Update the expressions editor
- Use the Properties tab to style your added fields for Stripe (text colour, size, style etc)
Read how to modify the design of your pdf invoices here
4. Sending invoices via email with an online payments option
Once you’ve set up your Stripe connection, and added payment links to both your invoice emails and invoice pdf your online payments option will automatically apply to any committed invoice in Abtrac.
You can email your invoices to clients in the usual way.
When clients click on the View and Pay or Pay Now option they are directed to the online payments page.
Read how to send email invoices from Abtrac
5. Online payments fees
Using Stripe incurs processing fees, which vary depending on the payment method and region. Common fees include:
- Credit/Debit Cards: A percentage of the transaction value plus a flat fee (e.g., 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).
- Currency Conversion: Additional fees may apply for cross-border transactions or currency conversions.
For a detailed breakdown of fees, visit Stripe’s official Pricing Page.
6. Syncing or updating invoice payments
Stripe payments will settle into your nominated bank account and can be reconciled in your accounting software in the usual way.
If you have the optional accounts link with Abtrac you can synchronise invoice payments from your accounts back into Abtrac automatically. If you don’t have the accounts link you can record payments, and account for write-offs and adjustments directly into the invoices and payments screen.
How to update or record invoice payments
Abtrac KB# 1020